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Five Survive is a thriller novel by Holly Jackson. The book came out in 2022 and is the author's first standalone novel. The major themes in Five Survive are betrayal and secrets, as well as trust.
Plot Summary:
Five Survive follows six high school seniors going on a road trip during their spring break. 17 year old Red Kenny, the protagonist, joins her friends on a journey in a borrowed RV, hoping to find some normalcy and fun after experiencing personal challenges, including the death of her mother. Red is accompanied by her best friend Maddy, Maddy’s brother Oliver, his girlfriend Reyna, and their friends Simon and Arthur. As they drive through a desolate part of Pennsylvania, a series of unexpected events turns their holiday into a nightmare. The trouble begins when the group takes a wrong turn and ends up on a desolate road far from their planned route.
First, the RV gets a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, leaving them stranded without a way to call for help due to poor reception. They think they have just hit a sharp rock and while they attempt to fix it, they discover that the damage appears intentional, as if someone had purposely sabotaged their vehicle. While outside of the vehicle trying to make sense of what happened to the tires, Red sees something out of the ordinary. A small red dot is moving slowly against the RV, coming from somewhere in the forest. Before they can make sense of this, they find themselves under attack. Someone is shooting at the RV from the darkness. Panic sets in as they realize they are being targeted. Suddenly an unfamiliar voice comes through a hidden walkie-talkie, revealing that someone is out there with a sniper rifle, and they are not just stranded by chance. The sniper gives them a chilling ultimatum. One of the six holds a secret, and until that secret is revealed, they will not be allowed to leave. They must find the truth within the group or none of them will survive. At first, the group is in disbelief, thinking it's some sort of sick joke or misunderstanding. But when the sniper proves his deadly seriousness by shooting objects near them, their fears are confirmed. Trapped and surrounded, the group of teens are forced to take the sniper’s demands seriously. They realize the sniper knows intimate details about them and is willing to kill if they do not comply. The group becomes frantic, searching for the secret that could save their lives.
Oliver quickly takes charge. As they start to turn on each other, it becomes apparent that there are fractures within their friend group that the sniper is making use of. The claustrophobic atmosphere of the RV, combined with the terror of being hunted, pushes everyone to their breaking points. With the clock ticking, the group tries to escape multiple times, but every plan fails. The sniper's aim is too good and every failed attempt makes them more desperate. As their fear grows, secrets begin to spill out. Oliver and Maddy's mom, Catherine, is an assistant district attorney who is involved in a case against a member of the Philadelphia mafia, Frank Grotti. Oliver believes the secret could have something to do with the case.
Oliver starts accusing Red, Arthur and Simon of working with the sniper. Red then realizes that there is a chance that she is the one the sniper is after. Red reveals that she herself is an eyewitness in the Frank Gotti case. Oliver quickly decides that Red must be the one the sniper is after. He forces her out of the RV into the darkness. The sniper does not shoot and Red survives. This makes Oliver suspicious of her involvement with the sniper. Oliver then decides to have his sister Maddy pretend to be Red and get outside of the RV. Because of Oliver's plan, Maddy gets shot by the sniper. Red then admits that she hasn't been telling the truth. Catherine, Oliver's and Maddy’s mom, made her lie. Red isn't actually an eyewitness. Catherine had told Red that Frank Gotti killed Red's mom and then promised her money for false testimony.
After that, Red manages to get through radio interference on the walkie-talkie but then Arthur abruptly smashes it. It is revealed that the sniper outside of the RV is Arthur's brother Mike and that they are Frank Gotti's sons. Arthur then confesses that Frank did not kill Red's mom at all. That's when Red finally realizes that Catherine had made up a story and lied to her. The one who killed Red's mom was Catherine. Maddy then speaks up, admitting that she already knew that her mom Catherine was responsible for Red's mother’s death.
Finally a police car arrives at the scene. Red rushes out of the RV and Arthur runs after her. Oliver also follows close behind, intent on killing Arthur. In the chaos Red gets shot by a police officer since he accidentally thought that the walkie-talkie in her hand was a gun and Oliver gets shot by the sniper. The last part of the book includes a newsletter, a police radio transcript and a letter from Arthur to Red where it is revealed that Red survived.
Major themes:
Betrayal
Betrayal is a central theme in Five Survive, creating much of the tension and conflict between the characters. As they are trapped by a sniper, the group begins to realize that someone among them may be the reason they are in danger. This creates a sense of paranoia, with each person questioning the other's loyalty. For example, when the group learns that one of their friends, Oliver, knows more about the situation than he initially reveals, the others especially his sister Maddy, feel betrayed. His silence has put them all at risk and this hidden knowledge breaks the bond between them. The novel expresses how betrayal by those who you trust the most is the worst kind. Betrayal in this story is not just about big, obvious acts – it is also about small moments of dishonesty or failure to act when needed.
Secrets
Secrets play a big role in Five Survive. Each character is hiding something and these secrets become a driving force in the plot. And as secrets are revealed throughout the night, it changes the dynamics within the group. The novel shows how keeping secrets, even if for protection or out of fear, can have serious consequences. It highlights the idea that honesty is always the better option. The novel emphasizes the idea that honesty might have saved them from the danger they face.
Trust
Throughout the novel trust is tested within the friend group. Trust between friends is fragile, and the pressure of the situation causes everyone to second guess each other's actions and intentions. However, trust is also necessary for survival. Without trusting each other, the friend group cannot work as a team. It can be vital to lean on others in moments of crisis. The novel shows how quickly trust can be broken and how difficult it is to rebuild it, especially when betrayal and secrets come into play. Five Survive also explores the fact that no matter how close you are to a person, you can never fully trust them.
Genre and style:
Five Survive is a young adult crime thriller. The book is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat story. The constant tension and danger, as the characters are hunted by a sniper creates a suspense of the typical thriller genre. The characters are teenagers, making this book part of the YA genre. The themes, relationships, and dialogue reflect the experiences of young adults, such as friendships, personal insecurities and coming-of-age struggles.
Development history:
Holly Jackson said that “after the A Good Girl's guide to murder series, I wanted to write the most different kind of crime thriller I could, almost as a palate cleanser. And I have always wanted to write a book in real time, the entire story unfolding in the same amount of time it takes to read it.”
Literary significance and reception:
Kirkus Reviews stated that Five Survive has “Intervals of intense suspense and a well-crafted puzzle blend to create a thrill ride of a story”. A reviewer on Bookgeeks gave a mixed review, noting that at times “the suspense felt prolonged and unnecessary, particularly at the beginning” but at the same time there were moments in the story that will completely get you off guard: “The author skilfully leads you to think you have it all figured out when, in reality, the truth lies far from your assumptions.”
Awards and nominations:
Winner of the Crimefest Award 2022 for Best Crime Fiction Novel for Young Adults.
The Goodreads Choice Awards in the “Best Young Adult” category.
External links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Jackson
https://www.bookgeeks.in/five-survive-holly-jackson-book-review/
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/holly-jackson/five-survive/